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Sardauna college holds maiden convocation, graduates 78 health professionals in Kano
Ibrahim Khalil
The Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, on Saturday held its maiden convocation ceremony, graduating 78 students, with women accounting for about 80 per cent of the graduating class, a development stakeholders described as a significant milestone for healthcare delivery in northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said the high number of female graduates would help address cultural concerns in the region, where many families are still uncomfortable with their wives, daughters and mothers being attended to by male medical personnel.
However, he noted that the northern region remains far behind in closing the gap in the number of female health practitioners, stressing the need for sustained investment in girls’ education and training in the health sector.
Alhaji Dalhatu also raised concern over the wider education crisis in the North, where he said an estimated 15 million children are currently out of school. He warned that failure to urgently tackle the problem could result in a generation that is largely unemployable, with serious consequences for regional and national development.
Also speaking, a renowned community leader and former public official, Dr. Goni Faruk Umar, has charged graduates of the Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, to see their qualification not as a gateway to comfort but as a call to service and responsibility.
Dr. Umar who served as the Special Guest at the convocation ceremony described the institution as one established by vision and sustained by purpose, with a clear mandate to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery in Kano State, Nigeria and beyond.
According to him, nations do not rise by chance but on the shoulders of prepared and committed citizens, noting that the College was presenting to society a new generation of trained Community Health Extension Workers, Medical Laboratory Technologists and Public Health professionals equipped not only with certificates but with the capacity to save lives.
Addressing the graduands, Dr. Umar said they were entering a complex world challenged by disease, misinformation, poverty and fragile health systems, stressing that their knowledge, skills and compassion were now more critical than ever.
“Healthcare is not only about science; it is about humanity. It is not only about diagnosis; it is about dignity. It is not only about treatment; it is about trust,” he said.
He urged the graduates to allow empathy to guide their expertise and ethics to shape their ambition, reminding them that every patient represents a family, a future and a source of hope.
Dr. Umar commended the Provost, Academic Board, management and staff of the College for their commitment to excellence, noting that beyond teaching courses, they had contributed to character building, confidence and purpose, thereby strengthening the health security of the state and the nation.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices of parents and guardians, describing the convocation as a moment when years of prayers, support and perseverance had yielded visible results.
The guest speaker called on leaders and stakeholders to continue investing in health and educational institutions, stressing that a healthy nation is a productive nation and that a skilled health workforce remains the first line of defence for any society.
He further urged the graduates to leave the institution with values of service, professionalism and leadership, encouraging them to be problem-solvers, innovators, ethical and compassionate ambassadors of the College.
Dr. Umar expressed gratitude to the Governing Council and management of the College for naming one of its blocks after him, describing the honour as a reaffirmation of collective commitment to strengthening health education and human capacity development.
He dedicated the gesture to the ideals of service, integrity and impact, and pledged his continued support for the growth and excellence of the institution.
In her address, the Provost of the College, Hajiya Naja’atu Abdullahi, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to uphold integrity, empathy and a commitment to lifelong learning in their professional careers.
She highlighted the institution’s progress in expanding academic programmes, improving teaching and learning facilities, and strengthening clinical and industrial training partnerships to enhance the quality of its graduates.
The Provost also described the commissioning of the Dr. Goni Umar Faruk Administrative Building as a symbol of the college’s vision and commitment to sustainable development in healthcare education.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said the state is facing enormous health challenges as its population continues to grow rapidly.
He projected that Kano State could record between 600,000 and 700,000 births in 2026 alone, while hospitals are currently grappling with a shortage of about 4,000 professional health workers.
Dr. Nagoda urged training institutions to place greater emphasis on practical and community-based training to ensure graduates are well prepared for service delivery. He further disclosed that plans were underway to absorb new graduates and deploy them to underserved areas, including Doguwa, Rogo and Sumaila Local Government Areas.
The maiden convocation was described by participants as a landmark achievement for the institution and a boost to efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in Kano State and the wider northern region.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a fresh round of appointments and promotions across key government agencies as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, the governor approved the appointment of Hon. Abdulkadir Balarabe Kankarofi (Alhajij) as Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs in the Office of the Executive Governor. Until his elevation, Kankarofi served as Senior Special Assistant on Protocol I to the governor.
Hajiya Aisha Tamburawa was also appointed as Special Adviser to the Governor on Positive Propaganda. She previously served as a Supervisory Councillor in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
In the water resources sector, Engr. Mukhtar Yusuf was promoted from Deputy Managing Director to Managing Director of the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA), while Zakari Usman Balan was appointed as the new Deputy Managing Director of the agency.
Similarly, Dr. Mukhtar Bello Maisudan, a senior lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, was appointed as Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board.
In the road infrastructure sector, Engr. Abba Kankarofi was promoted to Managing Director of the Kano Road and Maintenance Agency (KARMA), having previously served as Deputy Managing Director.
Also appointed is Hon. Musayyib Kawu Ungoggo as Managing Director of the Kano Zoological Garden. Ungoggo has served in various political capacities, including as a councillor and Senior Special Reporter.
Governor Yusuf urged the newly appointed and promoted officials to justify the confidence reposed in them by discharging their duties with dedication, transparency and a strong sense of responsibility to the people of Kano State.
He reaffirmed that his administration remains committed to strengthening public institutions and delivering people-centred governance in line with the objectives of the Kano First Agenda.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Islamic Forum of Nigeria has condemned what it described as the abduction, rape and forced conversion of a minor, Walida Abdulhadi, allegedly by an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for justice, transparency and equal treatment under the law.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Acting Executive Secretary, Dalhatu Gwarzo, the Forum expressed outrage over the alleged actions of the suspect, identified as Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, accusing him of abducting the girl, sexually assaulting her, forcing her to convert her religion and subjecting her to a forced abortion.
The group described the alleged incident as a grave violation of human rights, religious freedom and the rule of law, insisting that the matter should not be treated lightly because of the suspect’s status as a security operative.
The Forum also criticised what it termed the silence of sections of the media and religious bodies, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), over the case. It compared the situation with the widely publicised Ese Oruru case, in which Yunusa Dahiru was convicted and sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.
According to the Forum, the contrast in reactions raises concerns about selective outrage and double standards in the pursuit of justice.
“Where is the media outrage? Where are the public campaigns demanding justice for Walida?” the statement queried, adding that justice should not depend on the religious identity of either the victim or the alleged perpetrator.
The Forum called on the DSS to ensure transparency in its investigation and to allow the law to take its full course, including prosecuting the suspect for alleged offences such as kidnapping and statutory rape.
It also urged the judiciary to ensure an expedited and open trial, stressing that Walida should be released immediately to her parents in line with an existing court directive.
The organisation further appealed to the media to report the case with the same intensity accorded similar past incidents and called on the Federal Government to guarantee the safety of the victim and her family.
“The Muslim Ummah will not remain silent while its daughters are abducted, violated and forced out of their faith,” the statement said.
Nura Abdullahi
The Kwankwasiyya Movement Nigeria has appointed two new spokespersons as part of efforts to strengthen its communication structure and enhance engagement with the public and the media.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata on behalf of Kwankwasiyya, the Movement announced the appointment of Alhaji Habib Saleh Mailemo as Spokesperson I and Capt. Mansur Umar Kurugu as Spokesperson II.
According to the statement, the appointments are in line with Kwankwasiyya’s strategic repositioning in response to emerging political realities, where clear ideology, coherent messaging and disciplined communication are considered critical.
Mailemo, as Spokesperson I, will serve as the official voice of the Movement on political positions, policy perspectives and overall strategic direction. Capt. Kurugu, as Spokesperson II, will support coordinated messaging, provide rapid responses to developments and drive grassroots-focused communication.
The leadership of the Movement, under its national leader, Engr. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, expressed confidence that the new spokespersons will further project Kwankwasiyya as a people-oriented political movement anchored on social justice, equity and progressive leadership.
The statement also informed members of the public and the media that all official communications from the Kwankwasiyya Movement will henceforth be issued through the appointed spokespersons.
Kwankwasiyya reaffirmed its commitment to the masses and to the promotion of principled and issue-based politics in Nigeria.
The statement was signed by Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata on behalf of the Kwankwasiyya Movement Nigeria.
Governor Yusuf approves fresh appointments, promotions in Kano
Islamic Forum demands justice over alleged abduction, forced conversion of minor
Kwankwasiyya appoints new spokespersons to strengthen communication strategy
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